Ken Tobin

About Ken Tobin

Dr. Kenneth W. Tobin is the Chief Research and University Partnerships Officer at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). In this role he grows ORAU’s research enterprise while expanding partnerships with over 150 universities that are part of the ORAU consortium, by fostering relationships and business development with the federal government, national laboratories, and private industry. Prior to this, he was the Director of the Office of Institutional Planning at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). In this role, he was responsible for strategic planning and discretionary R&D investment in science and technology (S&T) initiatives. From 2016 to 2018, Dr. Tobin was the Director of the ORNL Reactor and Nuclear Systems Division supporting research for advanced reactor technology and the sustainability of our light water reactor fleet. From 2008 to 2016 he was the Director of the Electrical and Electronics Systems Research Division at ORNL with a focus on energy efficiency, resiliency, and security for the electric grid, transportation systems, and advanced manufacturing research. Concurrently with his ORNL position in 2009, He became the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Hubble Telemedical, Inc, a start-up company commercializing a novel telemedical screening technology for diabetic retinopathy. Hubble was purchased by Welch Allyn, Inc, in January of 2015, and acquired by Hill-Rom, Inc, in June 2015, and today provides retinal health care to thousands of patients nationwide with its RetinaVue™ care delivery model. Dr. Tobin earned his BS in Physics and MS in Nuclear Engineering from Virginia Tech and his PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia, where his dissertation contribution was in computational imaging methods for neutron radiography. He has authored and coauthored more than 180 total publications and has 15 issued US patents. He was an ORNL Corporate Research Fellow, and is a Fellow of SPIE, the NAI, and is a member

Experience

1. Chief Research and University Partnerships Officer

   ORAU

   Apr 2020 — Present · Oak Ridge, TN, US

   Serves as the Chief Research and University Partnerships Officer (CRO) for ORAU and manages relationships with over 150 major US universities that are part of the ORAU consortium. The Director of University Partnerships reports to this position. The CRO enhances ORAU’s research enterprise while ensuring oversight and alignment of University Partnerships and the Research and University Partnerships Office staff in providing research value to ORAU’s University Consortium. Participates in the development of strategies and processes around ORAU business planning and the extension of ORAU’s research capabilities, facilities, and reputation, leveraging university partnerships and relationships with key university faculty and facilities, adding value to both ORAU and the consortium organizations. • Represents ORAU in promoting partnership opportunities to the US DOE, other federal agencies, private industry, foundations, universities and other professional organizations. Reports to the President and Chief Executive Officer of ORAU, participates as a member of the Executive Team, and serves as a member of the ORAU Foundation Board and supports the Board of Directors and relevant Board Committees as needed.• Serves as the Institutional Official (IO) for ORAU, responsible for ensuring that the Human Research Protection Program (HRPP) functions effectively and that ORAU provides the resources and support necessary to comply with all requirements applicable to research involving human subjects.

Education

• Virginia Tech

  MS, Nuclear Engineering

  1983 — 1984

• University of Virginia

  PhD, Nuclear Engineering

  1984 — 1987

• Virginia Tech

  BS, Physics

  1979 — 1983